Soumya Tilak

🪔 About

Soumya Tilak is an accomplished Bharatanatyam artist, recognized for her expressive eyes and graceful movements. Her journey in dance began at the age of two, leading to formal training at four under Kalaimamani Sri. S. Natarajan and Smt. Priyamvadha Murali in Dubai, UAE. In 1997, she moved to Chennai, India, a prominent center for Bharatanatyam, to further her artistic development. There, she continued her training under Dr. Vijay Madhavan at his institution, Rechita Nrutyalaya. Soumya performed her Arangetram, a solo debut, in 1999, notably becoming Dr. Vijay Madhavan's first student to do so. Since her debut, Soumya Tilak has performed extensively in prestigious venues across India, the Middle East, and the United States. Her performances have garnered appreciation from critics and connoisseurs alike. Beyond her performing career, Soumya is dedicated to teaching and propagating the art form. She began formally teaching students in 2003. She is the founder and artistic director of Shreeja Dance Academy in California, where she currently resides in San Jose. In 2018, Soumya also established Nritya Samooha, a California Non-Profit Organization, with the aim of uniting Indian classical dancers and affiliated artists to foster learning and collaboration within the community. She continues to perform as a soloist and regularly travels to India for the Margazhi Music and Dance Festival in Chennai, maintaining her ongoing learning under her guru, Dr. Vijay Madhavan. Awards & Honours: Meritorious Performer, Best Dancer Award, VAA Top Artist, Outstanding Performance Award, Natya Choodamani, VDS Arts Academy Dance Scholarship, Natya Kala Nipuna (2021), Konark Natya Ratna, Special Prize for outstanding performance at Akhil Bharath Nrutyotsav All India Dance Competitions, Best Dancer Award (2006).